# The Genesis of Digital Liberty: EFF Founders Reflect on Early Battles for Online Privacy In an era increasingly defined by pervasive digital surveillance—from **Flock** license plate readers to advanced facial recognition and eerily prescient targeted advertising—the fight for online privacy has never been more critical. Yet, this battle is not new. Since the nascent days of the internet, a dedicated coalition of activists, legal experts, and technologists has championed a more secure and private digital future. **Cindy Cohn**, who recently concluded a remarkable 26-year tenure with the **Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)**, including 11 years as its executive director, has been at the forefront of this enduring struggle. Cohn emphasizes that privacy extends beyond mere secrecy; it is fundamentally about power—who wields it and who possesses the means to protect themselves from its reach. ## Introducing "Privacy's Defenders" This crucial narrative is now being brought to life through "Privacy's Defenders," a new podcast series dedicated to the individuals—lawyers, journalists, hackers, and others—who have tirelessly fought for digital liberties long before the internet became a household concept. <iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/4UAplFpPDqE4hWlwsjplgt?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"></iframe> ## The Origin Story: Operation Sundevil and the Birth of EFF The inaugural episode features **Cindy Cohn** in conversation with **EFF** co-founder **John Gilmore**. Gilmore, an early employee at **Sun Microsystems**, recounts how he joined forces with **Lotus Development** co-founder **Mitch Kapor** and the eclectic cattle rancher, philosopher, and **Grateful Dead** lyricist **John Perry Barlow** to establish the **EFF**. Their mission was clear: to create a bulwark against government investigation and prosecution of early internet users. This fascinating origin story delves into the **Secret Service's** infamous "Operation Sundevil," a period marked by high-stakes encounters between jet-setting tech titans and tie-dyed cypherpunks. The narrative traces back to a fateful house party in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, a pivotal moment in the earliest days of online communications that set the stage for the enduring battles shaping the internet as we know it today. ## A Legacy of Advocacy "Privacy's Defenders" serves as a compelling follow-up to Cohn's book, "Privacy's Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance." The podcast aims to animate pivotal moments in the voices of those who actively fought for digital rights. Proceeds from the book directly benefit the **EFF**, reinforcing its ongoing mission. This podcast was co-produced and created by **Joanne Elgart Jennings**, with **Jarod Sport** co-producing, mixing, and mastering. **Corinne Ruff** served as story editor, with additional support from Rachel Estabrook and Alison Broverman. The original music was composed and performed by **Nat Keefe** of **Hot Buttered Rum**, featuring **Ben Andrews** on the fiddle. Archival sound, including a snippet of the **Grateful Dead** song "Cassidy" co-written by **John Perry Barlow**, was sourced from the **Internet Archive**.